Many of the discussions for producing indie films in the Ultra or Mod Low range are focused on getting "Investors".
Of course, when pitching an "Investor" you want to show them your project's projected numbers and the revenue waterfall.
That being said, producers should know going in that estimates suggest real estate investments (one of the less risky vehicles) can provide an average annual return of between 8% to 10%. The question then becomes; can you confidently say your film will meet or beat that return on a yearly basis?
Therefore, I will suggest not looking for "Investors" if you play in that Ultra/ModLow sandbox. Focus instead on finding either gamblers or donors.
Either start making friends with the high-rollers at your local casinos (female producers may have an advantage there) or scour the society pages to find and reach out to folks who support the symphony, ballet, opera, etc.
1 person likes this
We used to play poker with one of the producers of Hell or High Water.
Sadly, you need money to make more money. Good places to meet ppl with deep pocket hobby money are at luxury cars & art auctions.
Good point Joe Orlandino
Dan MaxXx and Nick Waters, thank you. I agree with you Dan. In the past I would go to film producer networking events and the room was filled with producers looking for money from other producers looking for money. It didn't make much sense.
Hobby money...I like that.
The luxury car and art auctions are excellent places to find 'benefactors'.
Had it not been for Lorenzo de' Medici we may have never seen Michaelangelo's work.
1 person likes this
Hi Joe. Wherever you meet potential investors, life is all about preparation meeting opportunity. I recommend Jeanette Milio’s upcoming Stage 32 lab called Stage 32 Pitching Lab: Get Your Film or Television Pitch Materials Green Light Ready in 8 Weeks. Once you have the proper tools to court investors you can have success when you meet them. Here’s a link so you can see how the lab is designed: https://www.stage32.com/classes/Step-By-Step-Guide-On-How-You-Optimize-Y...
2 people like this
Honestly, and without criticism, that's the kookiest advice I have ever heard.
3 people like this
Shadow Dragu-Mihai, Esq - Sometimes and for some people the kooky, unorthodox approach works. Those famous words always ring true in this business, "No one knows anything."
2 people like this
A film (or even better a slate) should absolutely offer realistic income projections based on a real comparable data and a smart distribution strategy. But economics is probably not the primary reason that most investors get into the movie business.
1 person likes this
This is a great advice! Indie filmmakers are facing a situation where distributors are reducing the maximum amount they are willing to pre-sell their films for. This means that if you bring in investors for less than $2 million, the administrative and legal fees will eat into your budget. Consequently, distribution experts suggest that for ultra-low budget projects, alternative funding strategies should be explored to allocate more funds to the actual production and enhance the production values, making the films more appealing in the global market.
1 person likes this
Hey Joe, love your take on seeking out unconventional approaches for finding investors in the indie film world! Thinking outside the usual networking events and going after 'benefactors' with a passion for the arts sounds like a fantastic idea. Creativity and a bit of kookiness can sometimes be the key to success in this business. Thanks for sharing your unique perspective!
1 person likes this
I recently learned from the SAG office that only productions ready to shoot within 1-2 months will be approved regardless of whether they're green-lit, ultra-low, student, etc. Is this true?